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"Better will it be that ye have no trial together." Thorgaut said, "Surely all might is shaken out of you, nor shall I drop down betwixt morn and eve at such talk." Now so things go through the winter till Yule-tide. On Yule eve the shepherd would fare out to his sheep. Then said the good wife "Need is it that things go not the old way."
The summer went past, and Thorgaut began his duties with the winter nights, and was well liked by every one. Glam began to come again, and rode on the house-top, which Thorgaut thought great sport, and said that the thrall would have to come to close quarters before he would be afraid of him. Thorhall bade him not say too much about it.
He was an outlander of kin, big and stout, and two men's strength he had. He was unhired and single, and would fain do some work, for he was moneyless. Now Thorhall rode to the ship, and asked Thorgaut if he would work for him. Thorgaut said that might be, and moreover that he was not nice about work.
He asked him whether he would enter his service. Thorgaut answered that he might well do so, and that he did not care much what work he did. "'You must know, however, said Thorhall, 'that it is not good for any faint-hearted man to live at my place, on account of the hauntings that have been of late, and I do not wish to deceive you in any way.
And much scathe the men of the country-side deemed all this. <i>Of the doings of Glam at Thorhall-stead</i>. In the spring Thorhall got serving-men, and set up house at his farm; then the hauntings began to go off while the sun was at its height; and so things went on to midsummer. That summer a ship came out to Hunawater, wherein was a man named Thorgaut.
'It will be better for you, said he, 'if you have no trial of each other. "'Your courage has indeed been shaken out of you, said Thorgaut, 'but I am not going to fall dead for such talk. "The winter went on till Christmas came again, and on Christmas eve the shepherd went out to his sheep. 'I trust, said the good-wife, 'that things will not go after the old fashion.
Now they come speedily to a bargain, and Thorgaut is to watch the sheep when winter comes. So the summer wore on, and Thorgaut betook himself to the shepherding at winter nights, and all liked him well. But ever came Glam home and rode the house-roofs; this Thorgaut deemed sport enough, and quoth he "The thrall must come nigher to scare me." Thorhall bade him keep silence over that.
"'I do not think myself utterly lost although I see some wretched ghosts, said Thorgaut. 'It will be no light matter for others if I am scared, and I will not throw up the place on that account. "Their bargain was quickly made, and Thorgaut was to have charge of the sheep during the winter.
The mistress said: "Now I hope that our former experiences will not be repeated." "Have no fear for that, mistress," he said. "There will be something worth telling of if I come not back." Then he went out to his sheep. The weather was rather cold and there was a heavy snowstorm. Thorgaut usually returned when it was getting dark, but this time he did not come.
"Be sure in thy mind," said Thorhall, "that mannikins are of small avail there because of the hauntings that have been going on there for one while now; for I will not draw thee on by wiles." Thorgaut answers, "I deem not myself given up, though I should see some wraithlings; matters will not be light when I am scared, nor will I give up my service for that."
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